Synodicon in Gallia reformata, or, The acts, decisions, decrees, and canons of those famous national councils of the reformed churches in France being I. a most faithful and impartial history of the rise, growth, perfection and decay of the reformation in that kingdom, with its fatal catastrophe upon the revocation of the Edict of Nants in the year 1685 : II. the confession of faith and discipline of those churches : III. a collection of speeches, letters, sacred politicks, cases of conscience, and controversies in divinity, determined and resolved by those grave assemblies : IV. many excellent expedients for preventing and healing schisms in the churches and for re-uniting the dismembred body of divided Protestants : V. the laws, government, and maintenance of their colleges, universities and ministers, together with their exercise of discipline upon delinquent ministers and church-members : VI. a record of very many illustrious events of divine providence relating to those churches : the whole collected and composed out of original manuscript acts of those renowned synods : a work never be extant in any language.

CHAP. XXIX. The Testimonials of divers Doctors and Universities, unto the Treatise of Monsieur Rivett, against the Books of the Sieurs Amyraud and Testard.

To the most Honoured and our most Excellent Colleague, Andrew Rivett Professor of Divinity.

WE did read with singular delight your Remarks on the Writings of Monsieur Amyraud, Pastor and Professor at Saumur, which we had seen sometimes before, and we have found them exactly agreeing, both with the Holy Scripture in all Articles of Faith, and in those wherein our National Synod of Dort, had declared its Judgment; and therefore we ap∣prove of your Writing as being very Learned and Moderate, and count it Worthy of Praise from all Orthodox Divines; and we doubt not in the least, but that this your Labour will be most acceptable unto the now approa∣ching National Synod of France, and will be useful and serviceable for the suppressing and putting a period by due and proper ways, unto these late Con∣troversies, which some certain Pastors, affected and addicted unto Novelties, have to their shame, raised in the French Churches, to the great Offence of very many Godly Persons.

From Leyden,March 14. 1637.

Your Re∣verences most Affectionate Colleagues,

• ...Johannes Polyander,
• ...Antonius Wallaeus,
• Antonius Thysius, and
• ...Jacobus Triglandius.

Extracts out of a Letter sent by Mr. John Bogerman, to Mr. Andrew Rivett, from Franequer, Feb. 7. 1637.

HAving thus concerted that Affair among our selves, we now Write you our present Judgment, which in this Paper is Transmitted to you, begging of God with all our heart, That he would bless your Holy La∣bours, and behold in the Son of his Love, your distressed Churches of France, which have been hitherto as a Pure and Chaste Virgin, and have kept invio∣lably their Oath of Fidelity unto the Truth; but now-a-days begin to be troubled with impure Errors, and of a very dangerous Heterodoxy. My Colleagues could not read that French Book of the Professor Amyraud, because they don't understand the French Tongue, therefore did I most Faith∣fully make those Extracts, which you see, out of his Writings. Our ears could not suffer with any Patience, those Novelties of a double Predestina∣tion unto Salvation, and of a certain general knowledge by the light of Na∣ture of the Mercy of God to all Men, and of another particular knowledge of the same Mercy unto particular persons; of a double Decree of God, without any knowledge of Christ. The good Lord be merciful unto these Brethren, and according to his infinite goodness, grant that they may have but one and the same Mind, and the same Language with all the Churches of Christ; and may he ever watch over you to keep and preserve you for many long years yet to come, to the Glory of his Great Name, and the Edi∣fication of his Church.

To that most Excellent Person, our most Dear Brother in Jesus Christ, Master Rivett, Greeting.
SIR,

HAving received your Writing, together with the Books of this 21. of January, we perused them very diligently, and were grieved in our hearts, that the Seeds of new troubles were sowen in your Churches of France: Thus Satan, who is always the same and like himself, endeavours by vile Errours to obscure the Lustre of the Truth, and continually disco∣vers himself a most mortal Enemy of the Grace of God. And, Oh that our most Gracious God, whose great Benignity towards us, deserveth our ever∣lasting Praises, would deign to preserve your poor Churches of France from all their Enemies, and from those woful troubles attending on them. These Attacks of the Adversary, are ill-boding signs of some sad Events, which may betide them, unless they be resisted with singular Prudence, and an immovable Resolution in their first beginnings, and that they be stifled in the Birth. For what is it, that Men are hammering out of this multi∣tude of Errors, but a certain new Arminianism, Pelagianism, and Socinia∣nism? That odd and ridiculous Opinion of Vorstius, concerning the changea∣ble Decrees is once again digged out of its Grave, and brought upon the publick Theatre; yea, and that spurious Doctrine of the Jesuits, condem∣ned by the School-men themselves, appears bare-faced before the World. Alas! How many points incompatible one with another, are there to be found in Monsieur Testard his Book? For his latter Theses subvert the former, and so far are these Pamphlets from conciliating Peace, that to the contrary, we believe, the Adversaries are more exasperated by them, animated and strengthened to Combat with us; and that Saying of Mon∣sieur Beza may be justly applied to this Script, He would have forged a Peace, but he hath forged out Dissention.

Sir, You are very well acquainted with the Man, and there∣fore we Judge it your Duty to examine his work, and censure it, and to re∣turn it back unto us, that we also may add our consent unto your performance. What you have already done, discovers a Holy, Religious, and Charitable Affection to the Service of God, and to the Edification of the Churches in your Native Countrey. Your Remarks upon his Errors are very, clear, your Con∣futations of them exceeding Solid, and the Admonitions you have mini∣stred unto our Brethren, express a great deal of Christian Charity; and what you have done in this matter, is highly pleasing to us, and we cannot but Esteem, and Honour you the more for your singular care in defending the Truth, and conserving the Peace of God's Church, and we Praise and Applaud your Pious Zeal for the Service of God, and of his Church. And what Man fearing God, but will cherish in you these good Dispositions, and your Praise-worthy Labours? May our God, who hath breathed into you these Divine Motions and Affections, maintain them in you. And the Lord grant that the Churches of France may acknowledge with due respects and thankfulness your Zeal, and approve of your Writing, and may remove those Errors, which you have detected to them, from among them, and watch over them, that they may not gain ground in the midst them, for they have a tendency to Exclude our Lord Jesus Christ, from being a means of Salvation. And further, we do with all our hearts beseech the God of Bounty and Mer∣cy, that he would lengthen out your days unto many years, to the benefit of our Belgick Churches, and of those in the Kingdom of France; that he would

preserve you from all evil, and accumulate upon you his best Blessings. Amen.

From Franequer, this 15. of February, 1637.

Your most Affectio∣nate Servants and Brethren,

• Johannes Bogermannus, Dr. of Divinity, and chief Professor in this Ʋniversity.
• Menardus Sertaunus, S. S. Theolog. Dr. and Professor.
• Johannes Majomus, Dr. and Professor.

Letters from Monsieur Altingius to Monsieur Rivett, and the Approba∣tion of the Church of Groninguen.

SIR.

IT was very late when the Pacquet you sent me, was received by me; ha∣ving opened it, I found therein closed three Books, written by certain Pastors in France in love with Novelties, the Disciples of Mr. Cameron deceased, together with your Animadversions upon their Doctrines, briefly Collected by you. Indeed, as I am exceedingly desirous of the Peace and Con∣cord of God's Church, which we do more need now than ever; so was I as much sadned and dejected that those Brethren, and others of their Perswasion, should go about to change the Doctrine Established in France, and the Netherlands, against Arminius and his Followers, and trouble the Repose and Tranquility of all our Churches, and grieve weak Consciences; especially those who have no insight into these matters and others of the same Nature. I doubt not but that your Churches of France will find out a convenient and speedy Re∣medy in this their approaching National Synod, that may prevent this grow∣ing evil; according to the laudable Canons of their Discipline, and preserve others from its Infection. I approve and commend your singular Care and Diligence for those Churches, and that tho' you be at a distance from them, yet you do so seasonably assist and help them. I have Communicated the whole unto Monsieur Gomarus, who was very much pleased with your Con∣siderations, and who did not only read the Writings you had stitched with them, but extracted divers things, as I also have done to be of use to me, in case I should hereafter be called out to give my Judgment on these points. You have here added a form of Approbation, brief indeed, but harmoniously agreeing with that of the Professors at Leyden, and which, as we hope, will be sufficient enough for the present. If you desire any thing more, you need only hint it to me, nor use or urge any Arguments with me for so doing. I pray you to inform me, whether Monsieur Capel is a Partner in these No∣velties, for I have held with him a most intire, sincere and inviolable Friendship, more than thirty years. I must confess ingenuously unto you, that I could never well enough understand that Merit of the Covenant of Nature, which contains the Foundations of Pererius his Faith. Could I have met but with a Messenger any one day of this last week, I had sent the whole unto Monsieur Bogerman, which (God willing) I shall do by the very first opportunity. The Lord preserve you, my most Illustrious and Dear Brother, and whom I Honour with my whole heart; and the Lord lengthen out your life many a year, for the Service of his poor Church; and give down his Heavenly Blessing upon your worthy Labours to the Glory of his Great Name.

From Groninguen,Decemb. 27. 1636.

Henricus Altingius.

The Form of Approbation.

WE have Read and Examined in the fear of God, the Theologi∣cal Considerations of that most Famous Divine Monsieur Rivett, upon the Abridgement of the Doctrine of Nature and Grace; which as they do clearly repeat that Orthodox Consent settled against the Pelagians and Semi-Pelagians, by the Synod of Dort in Holland, and of Charenton in France; so be they also meet and fit for their singular Prudence, Moderation and Charity, to stop the Progress, yea, and wholly to sup∣press those unhappy Controversies which are lately started by some certain Pastors, who be more in love with Novelties and Subtilties, than with plain and simple Verity. They have shown a great deal of Imprudence in raising them, and have also Scandalized the Churches and Universities of France. We beseech God, through our Lord Jesus, That he would give his Blessing from Heaven, unto the Designs and Labours of this Man of God, and that he would Sanctifie us all, and keep us in the Truth.

From Groninguen, this 27th. of December, 1636.

• Francis Gomarus, Doctor of Divinity, and Professor in that University.
• Henricus Altingius, S. T. P.

The Original of this present Formulary of Approbation being in my Custody, in case any one should call in question the Truth of the Copies thereof, I shall produce it at any time for their satisfaction. I could not get the first Copy which I took from the Original, and sent back to be Subscribed by those Reverend Persons, who had Signed the Original to be Subscribed, because some of them were then absent from the City of Groninguen, and because I was necessitated to dispatch this second Copy so suddenly, that it could not possibly be attested by them. But in case the first Copy should not be delivered to our Reverend Brethren, yet never∣theless, I hope, they will credit these, which in the presence of God, I do avouch to have been most Faithfully extracted from the Original.

From the Hague, in much haste, this 17th. of May, 1637.

Andrew Rivett.